Augustine and Academic Skepticism: A Philosophical Study PDF
Preview Augustine and Academic Skepticism: A Philosophical Study
This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms AUGUSTINE AND ACADEMIC SKEPTICISM This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms AUGUSTINE AND ACADEMIC SKEPTICISM A PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY Blake D. Dutton CORNELL UNIVERSITY PRESS Ithaca and London This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Copyright © 2016 by Cornell University All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher. For information, address Cornell University Press, Sage House, 512 East State Street, Ithaca, New York 14850. First published 2016 by Cornell University Press Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Dutton, Blake D., 1962– author. Augustine and academic skepticism : a philosophical study / Blake D. Dutton. pages cm Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-8014-5293-2 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Skepticism. 2. Augustine, Saint, Bishop of Hippo—Philosophy. I. Title. B837.D88 2016 189'.2—dc23 2015036020 Cornell University Press strives to use environmentally responsible suppliers and materials to the fullest extent possible in the publishing of its books. Such materials include vegetable-based, low-VOC inks and acid-free papers that are recycled, totally chlorine-free, or partly composed of nonwood fibers. For further information, visit our website at www.cornellpress.cornell.edu. Cloth printing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms To Julian and Reid, pueris optimis in historia puerorum This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:35:08 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Contents Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations xiii Introduction 1 1. Augustine and the Academics 9 A Brief History of Academic Skepticism * Augustine’s Academics * A Christian Addendum * Final Thoughts Part I. Discrediting Academic Skepticism as a Philosophical Practice 2. Socrates, the Academics, and the Good Life 33 Socrates and the Good Life * The Academics and the Good Life * Three Cautionary Differences * Final Thoughts 3. Happiness, Wisdom, and the Insufficiency of Inquiry 49 A Pedagogical Exercise * Augustine Resolves the Issue * Licentius’s Best Option * A Problem with Licentius’s Best Option * A Stoic Solution to the Problem * Problems with the Stoic Solution * First Assessment * Denying Wisdom to the Academics * Second Assessment * Final Thoughts vii This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:38:53 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms viii CONTENTS 4. The Inaction Objection 75 The Academic Response: Some Preliminaries * Carneades on Assent and Approval * Carneades on Persuasiveness * Additional Requirements for Approval * A Quick Review * Augustine on Carneades * The Objection from Truthlikeness * A Concern about the Objection from Truthlikeness * An Exercise in Translation * The Crux of the Matter * Do the Results Stand? * A Rejoinder on Behalf of the Academics * A Problem with the Rejoinder * A Brief Assessment * Final Thoughts 5. Inquiry and Belief on Authority 95 Belief on Authority: From Manichee to Catholic * Augustine’s Model of Inquiry: Faith Seeking Understanding * The Case for Belief on Authority * Augustine on the Academics as Inquirers * How to Understand Augustine’s Charge * Three Problems with Belief on Authority * Augustine’s Response * A Brief Assessment * Final Thoughts 6. The Error of the Academics 120 The Objection from Error * Getting Straight on Error: The Academics * The Error of Non-Assent * Problems with the Error of Non-Assent * Two Anecdotes * The Error of Non-Assent in Light of the Anecdote of the Two Travelers * The Discovery of Truth and the Error of Non-Assent * Happiness and the Error of Non-Assent * A Question on Behalf of the Academics * Two Replies on Behalf of Augustine * An Additional This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:38:53 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms CONTENTS ix Question on Behalf of the Academics * An Additional Reply on Behalf of Augustine * Final Thoughts Afterword to Part I 139 Part II. V indicating the Possibility of Knowledge 7. The Academic Denial of the Possibility of Knowledge 145 Stoic Epistemology at a Glance * The Apprehensible Impression: Zeno’s Definition * A Simplified Definition * The Core Argument * The Indistinguishability Thesis * Defending the Indistinguishability Thesis * The General Consequences of the Academic Attack * Final Thoughts 8. The Apprehensible Truths of Philosophy 165 Augustine and Zeno’s Definition * Three Dilemmas concerning Zeno’s Definition * The Apprehensibility of Zeno’s Definition * Apprehensible Truths of Philosophy * Apprehensible Truths of Physics * External World Skepticism: The Deception of the Senses * External World Skepticism: The Possibility of Dreaming * Further Thoughts on the Possibility of Dreaming * More Apprehensible Truths of Physics * A Question about Augustine’s Success * Apprehensible Truths of Ethics * Apprehensible Truths of Dialectic * Doubts about the Apprehensible Truths of Dialectic * A Fourfold Classification of the Apprehensible Truths of Philosophy * Final Thoughts This content downloaded from 139.184.14.159 on Sun, 04 Sep 2016 09:38:53 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
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